The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, at 826 Fourth Street in Eureka. | Google Street View.
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Late last month, in the wake of receiving a final demand letter from the California Attorney General’s Office for the county’s long-overdue 2019/20 Financial Transactions Report (FTR), Humboldt County Auditor-Controller Karen Paz Dominguez issued a message to taxpayers alleging, among other things, that by decentralizing financial and accounting operations, the county paved the way for decades of fiscal mismanagement leading to “confirmed cases of error and fraud.”
A few days later, at the March 1 Board of Supervisors meeting, she elaborated in an oral report, leveling a series of allegations — or “findings” — against several county departments.
The Outpost has begun investigating those allegations, and today we’re taking a closer look at the charges she made against the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.
Specifically, Paz Dominguez alleged to the board that in reviewing the Sheriff’s Office, she and her staff found that:
the county made a payment for a donated vehicle,
a previously disposed vehicle resurfaced for sale, and
cash had been deposited of “sources unknown.”
We reached out to the Sheriff’s Office for a response. Public Information Specialist Samantha Karges said that the office hasn’t been provided with any details about the allegations.
“We are deeply disturbed that the Auditor-Controller would level unsubstantiated claims at county employees, without following due process to report these issues formally so that an investigation can occur,” she said in an email. “This situation has caused undue distress on our employees who work directly with the Auditor-Controller’s Office.”
Regarding the allegation of a payment made for a donated vehicle, a staff report from an Aug. 17, 2021, Board of Supervisors meeting documents the donation. According to the report, the Center to Combat Human Trafficking donated a truck to each of five Northern California
counties “as part of a collective effort to combat human trafficking in the Northern California region.”
The vehicle, a Ford F250 4x4 crew cab pickup, needed to be registered, and Karges said the associated costs were the responsibility of the Sheriff’s Office.
“At the time, a request was made to the Auditor-Controller’s Office to issue a check to pay for the State Use Tax,” Karges said. “When staff went to register the vehicle, DMV advised the Use Tax was not applicable for the donated vehicle and staff returned the check to the Auditor-Controller’s Office uncashed.”
There’s no reason for that to have been considered a “finding,” Karges said. “However,” she added, “we welcome additional information from the Auditor-Controller’s Office.”
As for the payment made for a donated vehicle previously disposed vehicle, Karges said this was an out-of-service truck that had been sitting on county-leased property for approximately four to five years.
“In January of 2021,” she said, “our deputies were working on clearing out old, unused equipment at that property and reached out to Deputy Director [of Financial & Support Services Regina] Fuller for authorization to dispose of this truck.”
The Auditor-Controller’s records showed that the truck had been acquired though asset seizure and recorded as “disposed” back in June of 2008 with a disposal method listed as “other,” Karges explained.
“The truck was determined to not have enough value to attempt to sell, and after consulting with County Purchasing and County Public Works, the truck was salvaged on 3/2/2021,” she said, adding that the truck was taken by John’s Used Cars and Auto Wreckers on Jacob’s Avenue.
“After hearing about this potential audit finding [at the March 1 meeting], Deputy Director Fuller reached out to the Auditor-Controller’s Office on 3/4/2022 requesting any documentation the Auditor-Controller might have about the circumstances of the asset disposal in 2008,” Karges said. “To date we have not heard back from the Auditor-Controller’s Office.”
As for the allegation of “cash deposited from sources unknown,” Karges replied, “[W]e haven’t been provided any identifying information from the Auditor-Controller’s Office about this finding and therefore are unable to respond.”
Karges’s response included the following statement:
The Sheriff’s Office asserts that a county Audit provides accountability and transparency essential to maintain trust of our community. We have maintained a spirit of cooperation with the Auditor-Controller’s Office and welcome the oversight and objective analysis of the Sheriff’s Office finances and budget.
We would have hoped to have been contacted by the Auditor-Controller regarding the three findings listed above so we could have a chance to ask questions and respond. It is essential that if trust is to be maintained in County Government, that the auditor needs to work with the competent county staff in an objective way to improve the processes. We welcome the independence, accountability and any opportunity to improve County operations and services.
Again, we welcome additional information from the Auditor-Controller’s Office and encourage the Auditor-Controller to follow due process in reporting any findings she believes violate law.
We’d like to remind the Auditor-Controller that the Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney and the CA Attorney General have criminal investigating authority over County Fraud cases. If the Auditor-Controller has information regarding criminal fraud, theft of public funds or misappropriation of Government Funds, that information needs to be reported to an investigative agency as soon as practical.
Refusal or delaying to provide documentation of any criminal activity is considered Obstruction of Justice and is a violation of the California Penal Code.
R to L: James Bingham, Robert Moorehead and Richard West | HCDTF
Humboldt County Drug Task Force press release:
Since September of 2021 the Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF) has been investigating a drug
trafficking organization (DTO) that was distributing “M30” fentanyl pills in Humboldt County. HCDTF
received information that Robert Moorehead (24 years old from Arcata) was the leader of this DTO and
was utilizing other co-conspirators to hold onto his pills and firearms in their residences to try and avoid
detection. Through their investigation over several months the HCDTF was able to identify James
Bingham (59 years old from Eureka) and Richard West (37 years old from Eureka) as the co-
conspirators of the DTO.
On Tuesday March 22nd ,2022 the HCDTF with the assistance of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s
Department and Eureka Police Department served a search warrant at three locations for this DTO.
The first location was in the 1300 block of Vernon St. in Eureka. Agents detained Bingham inside this
residence. During a search of this house agents located approx. 12,000 “M30” fentanyl pills as well as 8
firearms. Some of the firearms were fully automatic and had short barrels. Three of the guns were non-registered firearms (ghost guns) and one firearm had the serial number removed.
The second location was in the 2100 block of Frederick Ave. in Arcata. Agents detained Moorehead at this
location without incident. Agents located one firearm, a small amount of cocaine, and a large amount of
US currency in the residence.
The third location was a travel trailer in the Redwood Acres RV Park in Eureka. Agents detained West
without incident. Inside the trailer agents located a safe that contained approx. 3,000 “M30” fentanyl pills
and a large amount of US currency.
All three suspects were transported to the Humboldt County Jail where they were booked for the
following charges:
11351 H&S Possession of controlled substance for sale
11370.1 H&S Possession of controlled substance while armed
182 PC Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
32000 PC Manufacturing an unsafe handgun
33215 PC Possession of a short-barreled rifle
32625(a) PC Possession of a machine gun
30605(a) PC Possession of illegal assault rifle
11366.5 H&S Maintaining a drug house
The seizure of 15,000 “M30” fentanyl pills is the largest fentanyl bust in Humboldt County history.
Electronic evidence located on scene as well as statements of involved suspects confirmed that
Moorehead was the leader of this DTO.
Anyone with information related to this investigation or other narcotics related crimes are encouraged to
call the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at 707-267-9976.
Earlier today we reported that the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to meet on Monday, April 4, to consider censuring Auditor-Controller Karen Paz Dominguez. Thanks to the release of an informational report from the board’s closed session hearing this morning, we now know more about why.
According to the report — the release of which was also approved unanimously by the board — an independent, third-party investigation into allegations against Paz Dominguez found that she has engaged in retaliatory, harassing and/or bullying behavior.
The investigation also found that the auditor-controller’s financial decisions have increased staff workload and caused financial losses to the county, the report says.
Deputy County Administrative Officer Sean Quincey noted in an email that the Board of Supervisors has limited authority to direct the actions of the auditor-controller, who is independently elected and thus ultimately answers to voters.
“However,” Quincey said, “her actions, including treatment of staff and others she interacts with, impact the entire county government, employees and the community.”
He took pains to differentiate between “censure” and its homonym, “censor.” The board is not suppressing the auditor-controller’s speech.
“A censure is an official reprimand or opportunity to express disapproval,” Quincey said, adding that this rebuke is intended “to prompt a person to change their actions or at least prevent future offending actions.”
The investigation was conducted by Filomeo Investigative Services and the law firm Prentice|Long. The staff report released today, which was written by county counsel, also reveals that there was a previous independent investigation into Paz Dominguez, conducted in 2018, that reached similar conclusions.
Namely, it found that she mismanaged her department, showing a lack of leadership and making poor policy decisions; that her actions and comments caused animosity, stress and anxiety among employees; and that she had been inconsistent in her directives while blaming her own errors on subordinates, according to the staff report released today.
It’s not entirely clear which allegations prompted this latest investigation into Paz Dominguez. On November 3, a group of anonymous department heads, deputy directors and other employees sent the board a letter expressing concerns about a “severe” and “looming” fiscal crisis allegedly caused by “failures and financial missteps” from Paz Dominguez. The letter said the unidentified employees were considering a range of options, including litigation against the county, the Board of Supervisors or individual elected officials.
Less than three weeks later, the Board of Supervisors passed a resolution expressing “no confidence” in Paz Dominguez by a vote of 3-2, with supervisors Mike Wilson and Steve Madrone dissenting. A staff report from that hearing laid out a long list of alleged deficiencies from Paz Dominguez’s tenure as auditor-controller, including chronic delays in legally mandated fiscal reporting; late payments to vendors, child support recipients and employees; and failure to adequately manage county payroll, among other items. You can read that report here.
We reached out to Paz Dominguez for a response. She replied via email, “It is inappropriate that you were provided information from a closed session of the board and it is inappropriate that I now have it. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on this material and I am forwarding it to my attorney.”
Quincey reiterated that the Board of Supervisors authorized the release of the material with this morning’s vote in closed session.
When we passed that point along to Paz Dominguez, she sent a follow-up email, saying, “As I have not received any communication or evidentiary documentation from the Board or [County Administrative Office] or County Counsel on this matter, I will not comment on the contents of the document you shared. It is also unclear to me how this information was released or whether it is, in fact, the ‘closed session update as discussed’ that [County Counsel] Jefferson [Billingsley] referenced. Should the evidentiary information be released in full to the public for review under an official capacity, I will be happy to comment.”
The county counsel’s report from this morning’s closed session hearing is reproduced below:
Last year your board authorized an investigation into allegations of workplace misconduct and delayed payments by the Auditor-Controller, Ms. Paz Dominguez. Your Board also authorized an agreement to retain an independent third-party investigator to look into the allegations and directed county staff and officials to participate.
Due to several intervening factors, that investigation faced significant delays but has now been concluded. The retained third party attorney investigator has reached findings in that investigation which are summarized below. These findings were based on numerous witness interviews and written materials:
Whether Karen Paz Dominguez has engaged in retaliatory, harassing and/or bullying behavior in the exercise of her duties as an elected Auditor-Controller.
This allegation was sustained by the investigator.
The report notes broad agreement among those witnesses interviewed outside of the AuditorController’s office that they have experienced a change in communication levels and tone after challenging or criticizing the Auditor-Controller. Many believed that once the AC is challenged, that she will intentionally stop processing requests, or at least significantly delay them. They also assert that she will stop communicating with that department or person who is challenging or criticizing her. Other witnesses described retaliatory, bullying and/or harassing conduct.
Whether Karen Paz Dominguez’ financial decisions resulted in increased staff workload and financial losses to the county.
This allegation was sustained by the investigator.
Regarding the workplace misconduct findings, a prior investigation in 2018 reached similar conclusions regarding the conditions created by Ms. Paz Dominguez. Highlights of findings from that third-party report are below:
Ms. Paz Dominguez fostered an atmosphere of hostility, retaliation, and bullying.
Ms. Paz Dominguez demonstrated a lack of leadership, mismanagement and making poor policy decisions.
Ms. Paz Dominguez’s actions and comments caused animosity amongst the employees and increased employee’s stress and anxiety.
Ms. Paz Dominguez was repeatedly inconsistent in her directives and blamed her errors on her subordinates.
As your Board is aware, the Auditor-Controller is an elected official over which your Board has
limited supervisory authority and no power to impose disciplinary actions. However, the types of
behavior which the investigator has substantiated demonstrates harassing and bullying behavior
within the workplace which is not acceptable under County of Humboldt and other policies.
Possible actions in response to these workplace conditions and corresponding effects on county
employees will be discussed in the closed session.
There are also the findings regarding delayed transactions and reports which have been
previously discussed publicly by your Board on numerous occasions over the last several years.
The official groundbreaking ceremony on the site of the future Black Bear/ Coyote Habitat at the Sequoia Park Zoo | Photos and images from the Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation
Just when you thought our local zoo couldn’t get any more exciting, visitors will soon be able to gawk at coyotes and black bears close up, with the Sequoia Park Zoo’s new Black Bear/Coyote Habitat — an exhibit that will compliment the zoo’s awe-inspiring Redwood Sky Walk, starting in fall of 2022.
Plans for the new exhibit — which is a partnership between the Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation and the Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria — were officially announced during a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, where members of the tribe, zoo staff and city officials gathered to celebrate the launch of this exciting addition to the zoo.
The habitat is a part of the Zoo Master Plan, a long-term effort to
revamp the zoo in an effort to boost local tourism, which includes the
addition of the now-open Redwood Sky Walk and a plans for a fancy new interpretive center. Plans for the exhibit promise a unique opportunity for visitors to see the animals from different views and will included a 15,000-gallon pond and stream feature, a “Forest View Shelter”, which will allow guest to view the animals in a camouflaged fashion, like a duck blind. The Bear River Rancheria will construct a traditional plank house within the exhibit, which will include a “training wall” where guests can watch keepers train and feed the animals. Part of the exhibit will also be visible from the Redwood Sky Walk.
If all goes to plan, construction of the bear and coyote exhibit should be complete by the end of July, with the animals expected to be introduced to the exhibit September through October.
You can read more in a Sequoia Park Zoo & Foundation press statement here and check out more photos from the groundbreaking ceremony below.
Charges of assault with a firearm and animal cruelty have been added to the allegations against Eureka resident Jason Michael Miller, accused of murdering Kiera Lynn Foley in April 2021.
Miller, 41, was held to answer for murder after a preliminary hearing earlier this month. Today Judge Kaleb Cockrum arraigned him on that charge, along with fresh accusations of assault with a firearm on Crystal Gonzales and animal cruelty for drowning Bubbles, Foley’s pet dog.
It’s also alleged Miller has convictions in Shasta County for child abuse and false imprisonment.
Gonzales, a friend of Miller’s, testified during the preliminary hearing that Miller put a gun to her head and ordered her to to walk into the bathroom of the room he rented at Laguna Inn. Gonzales said she first smelled and then saw Foley’s body in the bathtub with her dog on top of it.
As Gonzales watched, she testified, Miller drowned the tiny dog in the toilet.
Miller allegedly told Gonzales and his girlfriend Rose Cooper that he killed Foley because he believed she was planning to rob him. He also told a neighbor he killed Foley and offered to show her the corpse.
No blood or other incriminating evidence was found in Miller’s motel room. Her body has never been found.
Miller’s jury trial is scheduled for May 15. Today Deputy District Attorney Jessica Watson was in court for the prosecution. Defense attorney Andrea Sullivan appeared via Zoom from her office in Lake County.
In other court news, this morning the trial of torture and murder suspect Daniella Patricia Moore was scheduled for Sept. 6.
Moore is charged with the July 2019 murder of Eureka resident Hannah Hayhurst, whose mutilated body was found in a parking lot in Eureka on July 4. Moore, now 42, was arrested the same day and remains in custody.
It is believed Hayhurst, 19, was killed with a pair of shears. Some of her vital organs were found next to her body.
Moore has pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial, including jury selection, is expected to last two months.
Deputy District Attorney Stacy Eads is the prosecutor, with Deputy Public Defender Casey Russo representing Moore.
Humboldt County Auditor-Controller Karen Paz Dominguez. | Screenshot from a March 1 Board of Supervisors meeting.
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The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in closed session this morning to meet on Monday, April 4, to consider a censure of Auditor-Controller Karen Paz Dominguez.
The meeting had barely begun before the board adjourned to closed session to discuss potential litigation. The threat of legal action came via a Nov. 3 letter from a group of anonymous department heads, deputy directors, a division director and an untold number of other employees, all of whom expressed concerns about a “severe” and “looming” fiscal crisis allegedly caused by “failures and financial missteps” from Paz Dominguez.
Before heading into closed session, Board Chair Virginia Bass asked County Counsel Jefferson Billingsley for an estimate of how long the board should expect to be behind closed doors discussing the matter. She lightly scoffed when he said 15 to 20 minutes, and sure enough, they were in closed session for close to an hour.
With the board having already passed a vote of “no confidence” in Paz Dominguez back in November, it’s not clear what impact an official board censure would have beyond yet another symbolic expression of their disapproval. The Outpost will follow up with staff to see if they can offer any clarity on the process and implications.
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UPDATE, 4:09 p.m.: The board authorized the release of a report written by county counsel that reveals the findings of an independent investigation into Paz Dominguez. Read more here.
Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:
On March 18, 2022, at about 6:52 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence on the 1100 block of Peeples Lane in McKinleyville for the report of a home invasion armed robbery.
Deputies arrived at the residence and located multiple victims, including two young children. No one was physically injured during the incident. During their investigation, deputies learned that four male suspects arrived at the residence brandishing firearms. The suspects reportedly bound the adult victims and stole cannabis, jewelry, electronics and cash from the victims. The suspects then reportedly fled the area.
The suspects are described as follows:
A black male adult, age 20-30’s, possibly known as “James,” approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, 180 pounds, with short black dreadlocks. He was last seen wearing a turquoise jacket, blue sweatpants with a white stripe down the leg, socks and sandals.
A black male adult, age 20-30’s, possibly known as “Mike,” approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall, 200 pounds, with long black dreadlocks. He was last seen wearing a black zip-up sweatshirt, a black shirt with red lettering, black sweatpants, and black and orange sandals.
The other two suspects are only described as black male adults, age 20-30’s.
A vehicle possibly associated with the suspects is described as a 2013 black Mazda SUV, unknown license plate, last seen fleeing east toward Willow Creek.
This case is still under investigation. Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.
